Top Ten Sprinters Wykoff - 1928

Stop Watches Must Be Wrong (newspaper article)

• "It's Impossible For a High School Boy (Frank Wykoff)  To Run That Fast!" A.A.U.

Lombardi vs. Wykoff

• Frank Lombardi jump started in the 100 yard race -- was penalized a yard, and still managed to beat Frank Wykoff  to the finish line.  Not only that,  Lombardi also equaled the world record by zooming through the tape ahead of Wykoff  after running 101 yards in 9.6 seconds.

Secret Strategy Reprint of article written by Braven Dyer - 1928 (newspaper article)

• Frank Wykoff upset with both Frank Lombardi, and Charley Paddock's statements to the press that Wykoff didn't have what it takes to win a place on the USA Olympic Team, went into secret training -- as described by Sports Editor, Braven Dyer, in an article he wrote entitled:    "S- Sh!  Frank Wykoff  Working in Secret for Sprint Race"

Paddock Picks His Spot! (Newspaper Headlines)

•  Newspaper Photo -Prior to the 1928 Olympic Trials on the west coast --   Photo #2 includes: Hugh Finney, Charley Paddock, Weldon Draper, Frank Lombardi, and Frank Wykoff in a promo practice race -- each holding back their secret strategy for the big event. (added 3-10-05)

Paddock Brings Out 'Winning Shoes' for Olympics - (Newspaper Headlines)

• Favorites to win the Century of the Century races at the 1928 Olympic Trials at Los Angeles included in photographic order - Charley Paddock, Charley Borah, Frank Wykoff, and Frank Lombardi.  (added 3-10-05)

 WYKOFF DECLARED NEW "FASTEST HUMAN"

1928 Olympic Semi Finals

A.A.U. Track Championships -- Senior National  --

Southwest OLYMPIC TRYOUTS ...  Semi - Finals

Saturday, June 16, 1928 -- Los Angeles, CA.

Olympic Trials - Los Angeles 1928  (photographs & 100M & 200M Statistics)

• The "Regional Olympic Trials - Los Angeles 1928" page highlights the extraordinary accomplishment of  an 18 year old Glendale High School Student, Frank Wykoff, who surprisingly vanquished the "Fastest Human," Charley Paddock, both in the 100 Meter and 200 Meter Olympic Trial Events  held at Los Angeles on June 16, 1928.

Two Happiest Men  (newspaper article)

• "The Two Happiest Men in the World" is the newspaper caption lead to a photograph of Coach Norm Hayhurst and Frank Wykoff. Wykoff dethroned Charley Paddock at the 1928 Olympic Semi-Final try-outs in both the 100 and 200 meter races at the Los Angeles Coliseum on June 16, 1928.

Wykoff Must Prove Citizenship (newspaper article - unavailable)

"Because Frank Wykoff, Glendale High School boy, beat Charley  Paddock and some other  fast runners in a footrace the other day  (Saturday, June 16, 1928) he forthwith had to prove to Uncle Sam he was An American Citizen and as such entitled to the protection of  the flag."

Missing Lucky Track Shoe

• The "Missing Lucky Track Shoes" page highlights a true story that Frank Wykoff shared with movie producer, Douglas Fairbanks concerning in his haste to board the train to compete in the Olympic Finals in Massachusetts -- Wykoff left behind his "Lucky Shoes" that he wore to beat the "Fastest Human," Charley Paddock at the Olympic Regional try-outs held in Los Angeles, 6-16-28; and how the Glendale Police came to the rescue by chasing down the train.

Reprint:  Sports Editor "Don" - (newspaper article)

• Don Ashbaugh of the Glendale News Press speculated who from the west coast would win the big 1928 Olympic final try-outs held at Harvard Stadium -- Massachusetts the same day that his column "Now I'll Tell You One"  was published.  Top candidates expected to wipe out the 100M and 200M eastern track contenders included:  Frank Wykoff; Charley Paddock, Charles Borah, Clyde Bracey, Hank Russell.  Other picks included Russ Slocum, Frank Lombardi, and Nate George.  (added 3-09-05)

Final Olympic Tryouts

July 7, 1928 -- Cambridge, Massachusetts

Olympic Record Equalled Four Times by Frank Wykoff

• At the "Olympic Trials 1928" -Frank Wykoff equaled the World record of 10.4 seconds in the 100  meters four times during the afternoon of Saturday, July 7, 1928 -- at the Olympic Finals held in Boston, Massachusetts;  and fulfilled his early childhood dream to one day become a member of the American Olympic team.

Wykoff Swarmed By Reporters

Wonder Boy (Frank Wykoff) Wins Sprint

• Equals World's 100-Metre Record of 10 3-5 Four Times" Boston Post - article by sports editor, Roger Birtwell. (added 3-09-05)

"The Olympics"

•  Boston Evening Transcript - dated July 7, 1928 --newspaper photograph of the 100-Metre race at Olympic finals -- Frank Wykoff, First; Bob Mc Allister, Second; Hank Russell, third; Clyde Bracey, Fourth; James Quinn, Fifth; and Jackson Scholz, Sixth. (added 3-09-05)
   

Southern California Track Stars 1928

• "Southern California Track Stars 1928" page highlights images that appeared on the first page of the sports section of a local Los Angeles newspaper honoring the athletes who made the 1928 Olympic Team.  Those honored include:  Charley Paddock; Bud Houser; Frank Wykoff; John Kuck; Leighton Dye; Lee Barnes; Nick Carter; Levi Casey; Jim Stewart; Charles Borah; Charles Harlow; and Bob Maxwell.

Moviegram of Frank Wykoff's Sprinting Positions

• Frank Wykoff's 'Movie-Graph' -- Sprinter's Start Analyzed by Camera
  photo source:  Eyre Powell Press Service

Olympic Finals - Harvard 1928

• Sports Writer, Arthur Duffey's, wrap-up of the 100-metre run in the final 1928 summer Olympic tryouts in the Harvard Stadium.

The "Headlines -- Olympic Finals 1928" .

• Star Athletes featured (images) were Arthur W. Sager, Frank Wykoff, Roland Locke, Folwell Scull, Hank Russell, Jackson Scholz, Claude Bracey, Chet Bowman, Bob McAllister, Jimmy Quinn, Virgil Gist, Ray Watson, John F. Sittig, Russell Chapman, and Edward Hamm.  (added 2-02-05)

Wykoff Copied Paddock's Style

• After Frank Wykoff vanquished Olympic Champion, Charley Paddock, it was disclosed to the Des Moines Register that Wykoff copied the sprinting style of Paddock, and was determined that he would someday conquer his idol in competition.

Olympic Sprint Candidate ... Part 1

• Reprint of an 1928 article written by Maxwell Stiles Los Angeles Examiner  entitled ... "Glendale Plumber's Son Surprised When He Humbled Paddock," in which Frank Wykoff described in his own words his first 18 years of life. 

Olympic Sprint Candidate... Part 2

• Part 2 -- Reprint of an 1928 article written by Maxwell Stiles Los Angeles Examiner  entitled ... "Glendale Plumber's Son Surprised When He Humbled Paddock," in which Frank Wykoff described in his own words his first 18 years of life. 

"Preparing For Amsterdam" (cartoon)

• Sports Cartoonist, Bob Coyne, illustrated in "Preparing For Amsterdam"   his concept of the IX Olympiad in 1928.  
   

Greatest USA sprinters of 1928 going to Amsterdam (cartoon)

• "Pick The Man" Bob Coyne, Cartoonist at the Boston Post illustrated the greatest American sprinters of the 1928 era. Sprinters depicted include:

  Carl Wildermuth; Chester Bowman; Folwell Scull:(?) French; Charley Paddock;

  Roland Locke; Frank Wykoff; Charley Borah; Frank Hussey; (?) Daley;

  Jackson Scholz; James Quinn; and Al Miller.

Steamship to Amsterdam -- 1928

En-route to Amsterdam, Netherlands for the

IX Olympiad aboard the President Roosevelt Steamship

July 11, 1928 - July 20, 1928

• 1928 Olympic Ship - Port of N.Y. 

   

  

   

   

  Among a number of ideas for cartoons, suggested by schoolmates (Glendale High School) of  Frank Wykoff, Major Reese draws the one to the left.

   

• Paddock Aboard by Luck? -- Charley Paddock was almost ousted from the USA Olympic Team the night before the S.S. Roosevelt was scheduled to carry the team across the seas to Amsterdam.

• Pre-Olympic Days 1928

• Don't Dip U.S.A. Flag
   

• Olympic Dash Marks Topped By Stock Car -- OLYMPIC DASH MARKS TOPPED BY STOCK CAR Durant-Star, Put Through Its Paces on Coliseum Track . (added 12-12-04)
   

• Barbuti  -- 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. The track and Field 400 Meter Race. United States star athlete, Ray Barbuti won Olympic  gold for the United States.

IX OLYMPIAD -- USA COMPETES 1928

• 100 Meters - The Agony -- 1928 Olympics featuring the 100 meter race at Amsterdam in 1928. Percy Williams of Canada flew through the finish line in rapid speed as Frank Wykoff of the USA pulled a tendon 20 meters from the tape and finished 4th.
   

• Gold Medal - 400 Meter Relay  -- 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. The track and Field 400 Meter Relay team consisting of Frank Wykoff, James Quinn, Charlie Borah, and Henry Russell set a new world record, and are presented Olympic Gold Medals.
   

• USA Gold - 1928

• Post-Olympic Games - USA Wins  -- USA OLYMPIC 400 METER RELAY TEAM DEFEATS GREAT BRITAIN.

• Wykoff Hailed in Fort Collins

HOMECOMING --

Frank Wykoff returns to Glendale, California

Tuesday, September 4, 1928:

• Conquering Hero Returns -- September 4, 1928 -- 3:38 PM

  Frank Wykoff hugs his mother,  Nellie, immediately  upon stepping off the Southern Pacific Locomotive.

• Homecoming Celebration -- The music of the Glendale Elks Club echoed loudly along the parade route as it  played  "The Conquering  Hero Comes," and "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here," over and over again.

• Charlie Paddock Tributes Wykoff - "I Am Through, It's Frank's Turn Now, "Says Track Hero (Charlie Paddock) in Talk At Verdugo Breakfast Club.

• Stinky Floating Hotel  --  Coach N. C.  Hayhurst of Glendale High School in California stated that the entire U.S.A. Olympic team suffered  both on the journey, and during the team's  stay in Holland aboard the S.S. Roosevelt Steamship.

• "Boat Life Also Hurt"  -- "I believe the failure of the American athletes is due to several factors.  The one that stands out in my mind was the absolute lack of training facilities and the refusal of the coaches to let us work out prior to the races..." Frank Wykoff.

• Rise To Fame  -- Frank Wykoff described in his own words how his biggest ambition was to vanquish Charley Paddock to be in the eyes of the public in order to obtain the publicity he felt necessary in order to acquire a coaching position.

• Wykoff Goes To College -- Frank Wykoff's High School and 1928 Olympic trial accomplishments are the topics published in the Glendale Junior College Newsletter. Included in the article is a description of the lack of preparation, and strange rules of the Dutch who were hosting the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Holland.